test 02 Mathews a doubt after hamstring strain

Friday, 24 June 2016 15:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka may also have benefited from Mathews’ experience as captain as England chased down 286 to draw level with Sri Lanka - particularly in the final two overs when Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett plundered 30 runs, culminating in Plunkett’s six off Nuwan Pradeep’s final ball. Sri Lanka’s pace attack has been gradually depleted since the start of the tour, with the loss of Dushmantha Chameera, Dhammika Prasad and Shaminda Eranga and, in the remainder of the squad, there is no like-for-like replacement for the all-rounder Matthews.

Sri Lanka’s team management has told ESPNcricinfo they were already preparing to draft a replacement for Eranga from the Sri Lanka A squad, which arrives in England on Wednesday night ahead of a series of matches against Pakistan A and England Lions. If Matthews fails to recover in time for Friday’s game, Sri Lanka may need to call in further reinforcements. -